Part of Snowflake, Taylor & Heber-Overgaard, our guide to the pioneer towns north of Show Low and the Mogollon Rim to the west.
Snowflake is a pioneer town of 6,104 people (2020 Census) about 5,600 ft up on Silver Creek, roughly 18 miles north of Show Low on State Route 77; the town says it incorporated in 1948. Its signature touch is the 180 flower pots hung on the Main Street lamp posts, and it has been a Tree City USA since 1999.
Checked · Edited by Sam Ridley · Sources · How we check
Parks
The Flower Pots
The town calls the flower pots on its Main Street lamp posts one of Snowflake’s most unique attributes: donors “adopt” a pot for $50, and the fund buys and tends all 180. Its slogans are “Where the Pioneer Spirit Still Lives On” and “Come for a day. Stay for a lifetime.”
The Snowflake Arizona Temple
The Snowflake Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at 1875 W. Canyon Dr. on the west side of town, was dedicated on March 3, 2002, and is a landmark on the skyline. The Church lists no visitors’ center there, and lists the temple as closed from August 31 to November 9, 2026.
Local Legend: “Snow for Me, Flake for You”: How Snowflake Got Its Name
What is actually true: The two-surname origin is well supported: the Church News (2002) says the town honors William J. Flake, sent to settle the region, and Apostle Erastus Snow, who oversaw Arizona colonization, and that Flake bought a ranch on Silver Creek from James Stinson in 1878. The playful “Snow for me and Flake for you” exchange is the legend: Wikipedia gives it as the origin but cites a single 2002 newspaper article, and does not verify it. It is not named for the weather. Neighboring Taylor was named in 1881 for President John Taylor (Church News). Sources: The Church News: Built on faith (2002)
Wikipedia: William J. Flake
Wikipedia: Snowflake, Arizona
What We Could Not Verify
- Park amenities, and which park the splash pad is in.
- Older incorporation dates (1917 or 1919) found only in secondary sources; the town itself says 1948.
- Whether the temple grounds are open to visitors; the Church’s page does not say.
- A “Snowflake bike park”: no town or operator page found.
More in Snowflake, Taylor & Heber-Overgaard
Nearby Places and Events
Places nearby
- 1Historic Snowflakemuseum and homes, pin estimated by eyeunder 1 mi
- 2Taylortown3 mi
- 3White Mountain Lakelake, pin estimated by eye11 mi
- 4Birdie Ranch Golf Clubgolf, pin estimated by eye12 mi
Events coming up
- 5Dragon Celebration (library)Lakeside, on now26 mi
- 6Geek Out: TCG HangoutShow Low, on now18 mi
- 7Paint RouletteShow Low, on now18 mi
- 8Artisan Market at The DepotLakeside, Oct 2426 mi
- 9Murder Mystery Masquerade PartyLakeside, Oct 2426 mi
- 10Merry Mountain MarketShow Low, Oct 2518 mi
Every pin here is an estimate, not a surveyed point. A place pin marked "estimated by eye" is our own guess at the spot (a lake, park or town middle); the others use a point from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors) for the named spot, which can still be off by a few blocks. Event pins sit at the center of the event's town, because we do not have each venue's exact spot. Distances are straight-line, rounded, and will not match driving miles. Dots sit in their compass direction; distance is stretched near the middle so close neighbors stay readable. Events are the next dates from our events calendar, as of October 23, 2026, and each date is the organizer's, not confirmed by us. The same places are listed beside the map.
Questions People Ask
How far is Snowflake from Show Low?
About 18 miles north as the crow flies, on State Route 77.
How many people live in Snowflake, AZ?
6,104 in the 2020 Census.
When was Snowflake incorporated?
The town says it was incorporated in 1948; it was founded as a pioneer settlement in 1878.
Sources
- Town of Snowflake
- Town of Snowflake: Council (incorporation year)
- Town of Snowflake: Parks
- Town of Snowflake: Tree City USA
- Town of Snowflake: Online facility reservations
- Snowflake-Taylor Recreation and Parks (Town of Taylor)
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Snowflake Arizona Temple
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb: 2020 Census places
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service
Checked October 22, 2026 by It’s Show Low. Cite this page: It’s Show Low (itsshowlow.com), checked October 22, 2026. Free to quote with a link; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.